Navigation device, navigation system, and method of operating the same

ABSTRACT

A navigation device and a method of operating the same are provided. Further, a method of operating a navigation system including a navigation device, a data server and an electronic device is provided. The navigation device includes a communication unit; a display; an input unit for receiving an input of data; a communication unit; and a controller for controlling operation of the display and the input unit. The controller connects to a data server through the communication unit, requests path setting information to the data server, receives the path setting information from the data server, acquires present position information of the navigation device, acquires a user moving path by reflecting the acquired position information and the received path setting information, and sets the user moving path as a guidance path. In this case, the path setting information is generated in another electronic device or the data server based on user input information input from the another electronic device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 13/319,733 filed on Dec. 20, 2011, which is a national-stageapplication under 35 USC 371 of PCT/KR2010/002232 filed on Apr. 12,2010, which claims the benefit of priority from Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2009-0041119 filed on May 12, 2009, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a navigation device, a navigationsystem, and a method of operating the same.

BACKGROUND ART

As an Internet network is opened and a law related to positioninformation is enacted, industry of a location based service (LBS) hasbeen activated. As one of such an LBS, navigation industry for measuringa present position of a terminal and grasping and guiding a moving pathto a destination has also been rapidly activated. Accordingly, aresearch for a navigation terminal has been actively performed.

Conventionally, in order to receive a guide of a path using a navigationterminal, a method of directly inputting information such as adestination through the navigation terminal has been used. Further,information for a path search is obtained using only algorithm withinthe navigation terminal. According to such a conventional method, aninput of various information for receiving a guide of a moving paththrough the navigation terminal gives inconvenience to a user oroperates as a factor to obstruct stability of vehicle driving.Furthermore, it cannot satisfy a request of various users to search fora unified moving path using only information of the navigation terminal.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, andprovides a navigation device and navigation system that can enable auser to more easily receive a guide of a desired moving path.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, andfurther provides a navigation device and navigation system that canguide a more appropriate and useful moving path to each user.

Technical Solution

In an aspect, a navigation device includes: a communication unit; adisplay; an input unit for receiving an input of data; a communicationunit; and a controller for controlling operation of the display and theinput unit. The controller connects to a data server through thecommunication unit, requests path setting information to the dataserver, receives the path setting information from the data server,acquires present position information of the navigation device, acquiresa user moving path by reflecting the acquired position information andthe received path setting information, and sets the user moving path asa guidance path. In this case, the path setting information is generatedin another electronic device or the data server based on user inputinformation input from the another electronic device.

In another aspect, a method of operating a navigation device includes:connecting to a communication network for performing data communicationwith a data server; requesting path setting information to the dataserver; receiving the path setting information from the data server;acquiring present position information of the navigation device;acquiring a user moving path based on the acquired position informationand the received path setting information; and setting the user movingpath as a guidance path. In this case, the path setting information isgenerated in another electronic device or the data server based on userinput information input through the another electronic device.

In another aspect, a method of operating a data server includes:providing a user interface to a first electronic device in order toreceive an input of user input information including starting pointinformation and destination point information and at least one ofpassing point information and essential passing segment information;receiving the user input information input through the user interface;acquiring moving path information based on the received user inputinformation, wherein the moving path information is an entire path fromthe starting point to the destination point; forming path settinginformation including the input destination information and at least oneof the passing point information, the moving path information, and theessential passing segment information; and transmitting, when a requestof the path setting information receives from the navigation device, thepath setting information to the navigation device.

In another aspect, a data server includes: a server communication unit,a server storage unit, and a server controller for controlling operationof the server communication unit and the server storage unit. The servercontroller provides a user interface to a first electronic device inorder to receive an input of user input information including startingpoint information and destination point information and at least one ofpassing point information and essential passing segment information;receives the user input information input through the user interface;acquires moving path information based on the received user inputinformation. In this case, the moving path information is an entire pathfrom the starting point to the destination point. Thereafter, pathsetting information including the input destination information and atleast one of the passing point information, the moving path information,and the essential passing segment information is formed and when arequest for the path setting information receives from the navigationdevice, the path setting information is transmitted to the navigationdevice.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention, the following advantages areobtained.

First, a user can receive a path guidance using a navigation devicethrough a minimum manipulation. Thereby, manipulation convenience of thenavigation device can increase and accident dangerousness due to amanipulation of the navigation device while driving can be reduced.

Second, the user can effectively search for an appropriate path or plana trip with various information by connecting to a data server havingvarious data using an IPTV or a PC at a home.

Third, the user can receive additional interest information through thenavigation device when actually traveling by registering/inputtingvarious additional interest information (historical archaeologicalsites, good taste restaurants, and recommended tourist sites) at aperiphery of the found path as user input information and thus canbeneficially use a boring moving time to a destination.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication networkfor using when a navigation device transmits/receives various dataaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigationdevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigationsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a data server accordingto a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operation of an electronic deviceaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a navigation deviceaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7 to 10 are diagrams illustrating screens that receive user inputinformation according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating operation of a navigation device forreceiving path setting information according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a navigation device for providing aguidance path according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method in which a navigationdevice displays additional interest information according to a firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a navigation device for displayingadditional interest information according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a navigation deviceaccording to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a data server accordingto a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating operation of an electronic deviceaccording to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Otherobjects and advantages of the present invention will be described andwill be understood by exemplary embodiments of the invention. Likereference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.Further, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structuresincorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matterof this document.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication networkfor using when a navigation device transmits/receives various dataaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a navigation device 10 receives a signal forcalculating a present position of the navigation device 10 from at leastthree artificial satellites 20. The navigation device 10 receives asignal from the artificial satellite 20 through a position check unit110 to be described later and calculates a present position coordinateusing the received information. The position coordinate is formed with alongitude and a latitude.

The navigation device 10 provides a moving path from a present positionto a position of a desired destination to a user based on positioninformation acquired through the position check unit 110.

The navigation device 10 can be variously embodied in a form of anavigation terminal, a mobile phone, a portable multimedia player (PMP),and a personal digital assistant (PDA) that may be used with mounted invehicles.

The navigation device 10 is connected to a network 30 through wired orwireless means. The navigation device 10 may be connected by wireless tothe network 30 through an access control router (ACR) 40 and a radioaccess station (RAS) 50. The navigation device 10 is connected by wiredor wireless means to the network 30 through a network communication unit120 to be described later. The navigation device 10 transmits/receivesvarious data by connecting by a wired or wireless means to the network30 such as Internet. Various electronic devices 60, 61, and 62 inaddition to the navigation device 10 may be connected to the network 30by a wired or wireless means with the above method.

The navigation device 10 transmits and receives data to and from otherelectronic devices located at a relatively short range from thenavigation device 10 through a short range communication module 140 tobe described later. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigationdevice 10 may transmit and receive data to and from a mobile phone 60located at a relatively short range.

The navigation device 10 can provide a moving path from a presentposition to a position of a desired destination to a user based onposition information acquired by a global navigation satellite system(GNSS).

In general, a GNSS, which is a method of calculating a position of astationary or moving object using an artificial satellite is a radionavigation system that calculates a receiver's position using anelectric wave signal received from the artificial satellite 20. Such aGNSS includes a global positioning system (GPS), Galileo, a globalorbiting navigational satellite system (GLONASS), Beidou navigationalsatellite system (COMPASS), Indian regional navigational satellitesystem (IRNSS), and Quasi-Zenith satellite system (QZSS) according to anoperation subject.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigationdevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Hereinafter, a configuration of the navigation device 10 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the navigation device 10 includes a communicationunit 100, a user input unit 200, an output unit 300, a storage unit 400,an interface unit 500, and a controller 600.

The communication unit 100 includes a position check unit 110, a networkcommunication unit 120, and a broadcasting communication unit 130.

As described with reference to FIG. 1, the position check unit 110receives predetermined data from the artificial satellite 20 and checksa present position based on the received data. The present position maybe expressed with a coordinate, and the coordinate may be expressed witha longitude and a latitude.

The network communication unit 120 enables the navigation device 10 toperform wired/wireless communication with the network 30 such asInternet. For example, the network communication unit 120 may have anapplication for transmitting/receiving data through Internet technologysuch as a wireless broadband (Wibro) a wireless LAN (WLAN), a LAN, or aWAN. The navigation device 10 transmits/receives various information byconnecting to the network through the network communication unit 120.Further, the navigation device 10 may connect to a mobile communicationnetwork through the network communication unit 120. In this case,although not shown in the drawings, the network communication unit 120may further include a separate module for connecting to the mobilecommunication network.

The broadcasting communication unit 130 enables the navigation device 10to receive a broadcasting signal transmitted through variousbroadcasting systems. The received broadcasting signal may includevarious additional information and particularly, the additionalinformation may include information about a real time road trafficsituation.

The user input unit 200 is used for a user to input a command and datafor operating the navigation device 10. The user input unit 200 includesa keypad, a touchpad, and a touch screen.

The output unit 300 includes a video output unit 310 and an audio outputunit 320.

The video output unit 310 visually transfers various information to theuser. For example, the video output unit 310 may provide information totransfer to the user in a form of a graphic image or a moving picture.The video output unit 310 includes a display device embodied in a liquidcrystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organiclight-emitting diode display (OLED), and e-paper. When the user inputunit 200 is formed in a touch screen, the user input unit 200 may becoupled to the video output unit 310.

The audio output unit 320 transfers various information using auditorysense to the user. For example, the audio output unit 320 may providevarious guidance messages and guidance broadcasting to the user. Theaudio output unit 320 may include a speaker.

The storage unit 400 stores information of various software and datanecessary for operation of the navigation device 10. For example, thestorage unit 400 stores a map database of map data of a national map andpath guidance data related to the map data. The storage unit 400 storesa path guidance control program for controlling general operations of anavigation system including a path guidance function, a user interface(UI) control program for controlling execution of a user interface forpath search and path setting, and a search control program forcontrolling a facility search of at least one item of a search path.

The storage unit 400 is detachably mounted in the navigation device 10.The storage unit 400 includes a volatile memory and/or a non-volatilememory such as a flash memory, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM),and a static random access memory and includes a card type memory suchas an SD memory card.

The interface unit 500 connects the navigation device 10 to externaldevices. For example, the navigation device 10 may be connected to apower supply device, an audio and video input device, and an audio andvideo output device through the interface unit 500.

The controller 600 controls operation of the above-described elementsand controls general operations of the navigation device 10 according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. The controller 600calculates a present position received from the position check unit 110under a control program and controls operation of the video output unit310 and the audio output unit 320 in order to appropriately perform pathguidance to the user. For example, the controller 600 may providevarious information for notifying the user of a location of a presentvehicle using the map data, routing an optimal path to a desireddestination, and guiding a vehicle to travel according to the routedpath.

Hereinafter, a navigation system according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigationsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the navigation system includes a navigation device10, an electronic device 80, a network 30, and a data server 70. Thenavigation device 10 and the network 30 have been described in detail inthe foregoing description and therefore a description thereof will beomitted. The data server 70 includes a communication module 71, astorage unit 72, and a controller 73. The data server 70 is connected tothe network 30 through the communication module 71. The storage unit 72stores various data and software for operating the data server 70. Thecontroller 73 generally controls operation of the communication module71 and the storage unit 72.

The electronic device 80 includes a communication module 81, a displaydevice 82, a user input device 83, a storage unit 84, and a controller85. The electronic device 80 is connected to the network 30 through thecommunication module 81. The display device 82 visually displays variousinformation. The electronic device 80 receives an input of various dataand/or instruction from the user through the user input device 83. Thestorage unit 84 stores various data and software necessary for operatingthe electronic device 80. The controller 85 controls general operationsof the communication module 81, the display device 82, the user inputdevice 83, and the storage unit 84. The electronic device 80 may includean Internet protocol television (IPTV), a personal computer (PC), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), and a smart phone.

Hereinafter, operation of the navigation system according to a firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a data server accordingto a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is aflowchart illustrating operation of an electronic device according to afirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is aflowchart illustrating operation of a navigation device according to afirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is assumed that theelectronic device is an IPTV and the network 30 is Internet. Further, itis described as the video output unit 310 includes a display device.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, operation of the IPTV 80 and the data server70 will be first described. The IPTV 80 is connected to the data server70 according to a user request (S102). The IPTV 80 is connected to thedata server 70 through an Internet web browser. The IPTV 80 transmitsfirst identification information to the data server 70 (S104).Accordingly, the data server 70 receives the first identificationinformation (S106). The first identification information may be a userID for connecting to the data server 70, or may be an intrinsicidentification number given to the IPTV 80. In order to receive the userID, the user can input a user description and identification informationsuch as a social security number necessary for the data server 70. Inthis case, the user can input/register together second identificationinformation of the mainly using navigation device 10. The secondidentification information may be a serial number of the navigationdevice 10 or an identification number given to the network communicationunit 120. The first identification information may be used forauthentication of the user or the electronic device.

The IPTV 80 provides a user interface such as a graphical user interface(GUI) that can receive an input of user input information (S108).Thereafter, the IPTV 80 receives an input of the user input informationusing the GUI (S110). The user input information may be input by theuser input device 83. The user input information may include a startingpoint, a destination point, a passing point, and an essential passingsegment.

The GUI may be provided by a navigation application for appropriatelyreceiving an input of the user input information necessary for formingpath setting information according to the present invention from theuser. The navigation application is provided by the data server 70 andis driven on Web. Alternatively, the navigation application is stored atthe IPTV 80 and may be driven in the IPTV 80. The navigation applicationprovides the GUI and includes path search algorithm that searches for apath based on the user input information.

Thereafter, the IPTV 80 transmits the user input information to the dataserver 70 (S112).

The data server 70 receives the user input information (S114). The dataserver 70 acquires a moving path (hereinafter, moving path information)from the starting point to the destination point based on the user inputinformation (S116). In order to acquire the moving path information, thedata server 70 can use various path search algorithm. For example, asdescribed above, various path search algorithm according to a searchcondition such as a shortest path, an optimal path, and a shortest timepath may be used for acquiring the moving path information. In thiscase, the user can select algorithm to search for a path. Alternatively,the user may select one of a plurality of moving paths acquired using aplurality of algorithm. The moving path information may be acquired fromthe IPTV 80 according to a case.

Hereinafter, reception of an input of the user input information will bedescribed.

FIGS. 7 to 10 are diagrams illustrating screens that receive user inputinformation according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

The user can input a starting point, a destination point, and a passingpoint. Accordingly, the data server 70 or the IPTV 80 acquires apreliminary moving path PR according to the input information anddisplays the preliminary moving path PR together with a map image in thedisplay device 82 of the IPTV 80. When the user has a segment wishing toessentially pass (hereinafter, an essential passing segment) unlike thepreliminary moving path PR, the user can input an essential passingsegment R1 through the user input device 83. As shown in FIG. 9, inorder to set the essential passing segment R1, the user can use a methodof directly changing some segment of the preliminary moving path PRthrough an input device such as a touch screen or a mouse in order topass through other segments. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, theuser may set the essential passing segment R1 by inputting a road nameof the essential passing segment. In addition, various user interfacesfor receiving an input of the essential passing segment R1 may beprovided.

The user input information may include additional interest information.The additional interest information may be information about good tasterestaurants, information about historical archaeological sites, andinformation specially interested and registered by the user. Theadditional interest information may be information normally specifiedand stored by the user as additional interest information, and may beinformation separately input while inputting the user input information.The additional interest information may include a position coordinate ofa corresponding region and various information of the correspondingregion. For example, after a user reads an article about‘Mongchontoseong’ the user may register the article as additionalinterest information. Alternatively, the additional interest informationmay be selected from information provided from the data server 70. Forexample, the data server 70 provides information about variousrecommended tourist sites, good taste restaurants, and historicalarchaeological sites at a periphery of a moving path acquired by theuser input information, and the additional interest information may beinformation selected from the above information by the user. Theadditional interest information may be appropriately provided to theuser through the navigation device 10. This will be described later.

Although not shown in the drawings, the navigation application mayprovide trial driving information. For example, the navigationapplication may provide simulation drive like actual driving accordingto the preliminary moving path PR or the acquired moving pathinformation. Accordingly, the user can add or adjust the user inputinformation.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the user input information isreceived (S114) and the moving path information is acquired (S116), thedata server 70 generates path setting information based on the userinput information and the acquired moving path information (S118). Thedata server 70 generates title information corresponding to the pathsetting information together with the path setting information (S118).

The path setting information includes a destination point input by theuser input information. The path setting information may further includeat least one of the passing point, the essential passing segmentinformation, and the acquired moving path information. Further, the pathsetting information may further include the additional interestinformation.

The title information may be generated by the data server 70 based onthe destination point and the passing point. For example, when it isinput as the destination point is ‘A’? and the passing point is ‘B’, thetitle information may be generated like a ‘path for the destinationpoint A via the passing point B’. Further, the title information may begenerated to reflect a date and time point in which the user inputinformation is input to the title information. The title information maybe generated by other various methods. Alternatively, the titleinformation is the user input information and may be directly input bythe user through the IPTV 80.

The data server 70 stores the generated path setting information and thetitle information (S120). The path setting information and the titleinformation may be matched to the first identification information andbe stored.

Hereinafter, operation of the navigation device 10 and the data server70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 6, and 11.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating operation of a navigation device forreceiving path setting information according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the navigation device 10 is turned onaccording to a predetermined signal (S122). When the navigation device10 is turned on, the navigation device 10 is connected to the Internet30 (S124), as described with reference to FIG. 1. A connection of thenavigation device 10 to the Internet 30 may be performed by a userrequest or may be automatically performed by interlocking with theturn-on operation. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the navigationdevice 10 displays an initial screen together with a turn-on operation,and as shown in FIG. 11B, the navigation device 10 is connected to theInternet 30 by interlocking with the turn-on operation and displays astandby screen for transmitting and receiving various necessary data toand from the data server 70, as described later. The navigation device10 is connected to the data server 70 through the Internet 30 (S126).

The navigation device 10 requests path setting information to the dataserver 70.

A request for the path setting information may be performed by thefollowing series of operations. First, the navigation device 10transmits second identification information related to the navigationdevice 10 to the data server 70 (S128). The second identificationinformation may be an intrinsic identification number (e.g., serialnumber of the navigation device) of the navigation device 10 and may bean intrinsic identification number related to the network communicationunit 120 of the navigation device. Alternatively, the secondidentification information may be an intrinsic identification numbergiven to the storage unit 400 of the navigation device 10.Alternatively, the second identification information may be intrinsicidentification information given to the user, which is previously storedat the navigation device 10. The second identification information maybe used for authenticating the user or the navigation device 10.

Thereafter, the navigation device 10 requests transmission of the numberof path setting information matching to the second identificationinformation and title information corresponding thereto (S130). The dataserver 70 receives the request (S132), and the data server 70 searchesfor path setting information corresponding to the second identificationinformation (S134).

In this case, in order to search for path setting information matchingto the second identification information, the data server 70 searchesfor the first identification information corresponding to the secondidentification information. A search of the first identificationinformation corresponding to the second identification information canbe performed based on the second identification information registeredwhen registering a user ID, as described above. Alternatively, a searchof the first identification information corresponding to the secondidentification information may be performed by searching for registereduser information of the navigation device 10 by the secondidentification information and searching for first identificationinformation corresponding to the user information among the firstidentification information. For example, identification informationgiven to the network communication unit 120 may include informationabout a user of the network communication unit 120, and the data server70 may search for the first identification information matching theretousing information about the user.

The data server 70 transmits the found path setting information andtitle information corresponding to the found path setting information tothe navigation device 10 according to the search result (S136). In thiscase, the data server 70 may transmit the number of the path settinginformation together with the found path setting information and thetitle information. The data server 70 may transmit the number of thefound path setting information and/or title information according to arequest of the navigation device 10, as described above, but maytransmit the found path setting information itself to the navigationdevice 10.

The navigation device 10 receives the title information and/or thenumber of the found path setting information (S138) and determineswhether the number of the found path setting information is plural(S140).

If the number of the found path setting information is plural, thenavigation device 10 selects to receive which information of a pluralityof path setting information according to a predetermined signal (S142).For example, as shown in FIG. 11C, the navigation device 10 may displaythe received title information in the display device 310 and thus theuser can select path setting information to receive based on the titleinformation. The navigation device 10 may select one of the plurality ofpath setting information according to predetermined selection algorithm.For example, the navigation device 10 may select most recently generatedpath setting information. Alternatively, the navigation device 10 mayselect path setting information generated based on most recently inputuser input information.

If the path setting information is one, the navigation device 10determines whether a selection of the user to receive the found pathsetting information is received (S144), as shown in FIG. 11D. If theuser selects not to receive the path setting information, the navigationdevice 10 is converted to a general path search mode (S146). Forexample, the navigation device 10 may receive a direct input of the userfor a destination point and/or a passing point, search for a guidancepath R, and guide the guidance path R to the user.

If a plurality of path setting information is searched for, thenavigation device 10 requests to transmit one path setting informationselected from the plurality of path setting information to the dataserver 70, or if one path setting information is searched for andreception of the found path setting information is requested by theuser, the navigation device 10 requests to transmit the found one pathsetting information to the data server 70 (S148). Hereinafter, forconvenience of description, both path setting information selected froma plurality of path setting information and one path setting informationin which reception is requested is referred to as selected path settinginformation.

The data server 70 receives the request (S150) and transmits theselected path setting information to the navigation device 10 (S152).The navigation device 10 receives the selected path setting information(S154) and acquires a user moving path based on the received pathsetting information (S156). The user moving path can be acquired by apredetermined application stored in the navigation device 10.

Step S156 of acquiring the user moving path can be performed by variousmethods. For example, when the moving path information is included inthe path setting information, the navigation device 10 may acquire theuser moving path identical to the moving path information. When thepassing point is included in the path setting information, thenavigation device 10 can acquire the user moving path to surely passthrough the passing point. When the essential passing segment isincluded in the path setting information, the navigation device 10 canacquire the user moving path to surely pass through the essentialpassing point.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a navigation device for providing aguidance path according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 12, after the navigation device 10 acquires the usermoving path, the navigation device 10 sets the user moving path as theguidance path R and appropriately guides the guidance path R to adestination OP to the user by interlocking with a present position CPreceived through the position check unit 110.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method in which a navigationdevice displays additional interest information according to a firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is a diagramillustrating a navigation device for displaying additional interestinformation according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 13, when additional interest information is includedin the path setting information, the navigation device 10 guides a path(S158), and the navigation device 10 determines whether a distancebetween a position corresponding to additional interest information anda present position of the navigation device 10 is a predetermineddistance D or less (S160), and if a distance between a positioncorresponding to additional interest information and a present positionof the navigation device 10 is a predetermined distance D or less, thenavigation device 10 displays various information stored as theadditional interest information through the display device 310 (S162).For example, when information about ‘Mongchontoseong’? is registered asthe additional interest information and a position of the navigationdevice 10 exists within a predetermined distance from ‘Mongchontoseong’,various information registered by the user for ‘Mongchontoseong’? may bedisplayed through the display device 310, as shown in FIG. 14. In thiscase, a screen of the display device 310 may be partitioned into a pathguidance screen and an additional interest information display screen.

The additional interest information may include video, image, and audioinformation in addition to a text. When the additional interestinformation includes audio information, the additional interestinformation may be output through the audio output unit 320.

When transmission/reception of data is complete from the data server 70,the navigation device 10 releases a connection to the Internet 30. Forexample, after the navigation device 10 receives the path settinginformation from the data server 70 (S154), a connection of thenavigation device 10 to the Internet 30 may be released. Thereby, a costfor transmission/reception of data can be minimized.

Hereinafter, operation of the navigation system according to a secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a navigation deviceaccording to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a data server accordingto a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is aflowchart illustrating operation of an electronic device according to asecond exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 15, operation of the navigation device 10 according toa second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed.

The navigation device 10 determines whether an actual moving path of thenavigation device 10 deviates from a preset guidance path R whileguiding the path (S202), and if an actual moving path of the navigationdevice 10 deviates from a preset guidance path R, the navigation device10 stores the actual moving path at the storage unit 400 (S204). Whenstoring the actual moving path, the navigation device 10 can storetogether a separation position and/or a separation time point, whichare(is) a position and/or a time point in which the actual moving pathdeviates from the path. The preset guidance path R may be acquiredaccording to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The navigation device 10 transmits the stored actual moving path to thedata server 70 (S206). In this case, the separation position and/orseparation time point may be transmitted together. Hereinafter, theactual moving path, the separation position, and the separation timepoint are referred to as user actual moving path information. Secondidentification information, which is identification information relatedto the navigation device 10 together with the actual moving pathinformation may be transmitted to the data server 70. Further, when theguidance path R is acquired according to the first exemplary embodimentof the present invention, the path may be also transmitted asidentification information (e.g., the title information) about some pathsetting information.

The navigation device 10 transmits the user actual moving pathinformation to the data server according to a predetermined timeinterval. Alternatively, when a turn-off signal of the navigation device10 is received, before the navigation device 10 is turned off, thenavigation device 10 may transmit the user actual moving pathinformation to the data server 70. Alternatively, when the presentposition is at a periphery of a destination point, the navigation device10 may transmit the user actual moving path information to the dataserver 70. When a connection between the navigation device 10 and theInternet 30 is released, in order to transmit user actual moving pathinformation to the data server 70, the navigation device 10 may beconnected to the data server 70 by connecting to the Internet 30.

Although not shown in the drawings, the navigation device 10 may storeeco-driving information at the storage unit 500. The eco-drivinginformation is information for determining whether a vehicle in whichthe navigation device 10 is installed economically drives by apredetermined reference. For example, the eco-driving information mayinclude information about an overspeed/low speed of the vehicle at apredetermined economy speed segment. The eco-driving information mayinclude information about rapid acceleration/rapid retardation of apredetermined economy acceleration. The eco-driving information may betransmitted to the data server 70, similarly to the user actual movingpath information, and the data server 70 may store the eco-drivinginformation. In this case, the eco-driving information may beaccumulatively stored to correspond to the first identificationinformation or the second identification information. When a requestthrough the IPTV 80 exists, the eco-driving information stored at thedata server 70 may be transmitted to the IPTV 80, the IPTV 80 may beprovided the eco-driving information to the user. Further, theeco-driving information may be appropriately statistically processed andstored at the data server 70, or the eco-driving information may beformed in a graphic or in a pattern based on the statistically processedeco-driving information and may be stored at the data server 70. Thestatistically processed or graphically formed eco-driving information orthe eco-driving information formed in a pattern may be transmitted tothe IPTV 80, and the IPTV 80 can provide the statistically processed orgraphically formed eco-driving information or the eco-drivinginformation formed in a pattern to the user. Referring to FIGS. 16 and17, operation of the data server 70 and the IPTV 80 according to asecond exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The data server 70 receives the user actual moving path information(S208). The data server 70 stores the user actual moving pathinformation (S210). The user actual moving path information may bestored to correspond to the second identification information and/or thefirst identification information matching to the second identificationinformation. Alternatively, the user actual moving information may bestored to correspond to identification information of the transmittedpath setting information. The data server 70 provides the user actualmoving path information to the IPTV 80 according to a predeterminedsignal (S212).

After the IPTV 80 receives the user actual moving path information(S214), the IPTV 80 displays an actual moving path included in the useractual moving path information in the display device 82 (S216). StepS214 of receiving the user actual moving path information can beperformed by a separate request of the user or by interlocking with aturn-on operation of the IPTV 80. For example, when the IPTV 80 isturned-on, the most recent information corresponding to the firstidentification information related to the IPTV 80 may be received fromthe data server 70. Further, as described above, the IPTV 80 may bereceived the eco-driving information.

Thereafter, the IPTV 80 receives a selection of a use attribute of theuser actual moving path from the user (S218). For example, the IPTV 80may receive a selection from the user about whether to ignore the actualmoving path, to use the actual moving path in order to update the movingpath information according to the first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, to store the actual moving path as a user intrinsicpreference path, or to share the actual moving path with other users.The IPTV 80 transmits an appropriate processing signal of the actualmoving path to the data server 70 according to a selection of a useattribute of the actual moving path (S220). The data server 70appropriately processes the user actual path information according toreception of the processing signal.

For example, when a selection to ignore the actual moving path isreceived, the IPTV 80 may transmit no signal to the data server 70 orrequest deletion of the user moving path information. The data server 70deletes the user actual path information according to the deletionrequest.

When the actual moving path is selected to use for update of the movingpath information, the IPTV 80 requests to store the actual moving pathto the data server 70. In this case, the data server 70 replaces themoving path information included in the path setting information withthe actual moving path according to the request and stores the actualmoving path. Accordingly, when the same path setting information isselected later and transmitted to the navigation device 10, the movingpath information that may be included in the path setting information isupdated to the actual moving path and is transmitted to the navigationdevice 10.

When it is selected to use the actual moving path as a user intrinsicpath, the IPTV 80 transmits an appropriate signal thereof, and the dataserver 70 can store the actual moving path as a path for a startingpoint and a destination point used for setting of the guidance path R.Accordingly, when the data server 70 is connected to the IPTV 80 or thenavigation device 10, if the starting point and the destination pointare input, in order provide the stored actual moving path as theguidance path R, the data server 70 can update path search algorithmprovided in the IPTV 80 and/or the navigation device 10.

When it is selected to share the actual moving path with another user,the IPTV 80 transmits an appropriate signal thereof, and the data server70 can separately store the actual moving path in order to share theactual moving path with other users.

Although not shown in the drawings, the data server 70 can use the useractual moving path information for algorithm for providing an optimalpath to the user. For example, the data server 70 may accumulativelystore the user actual moving path information and provide an optimalpath through statistic calculation of an accumulated separation timepoint and an accumulated separation position included in the user actualmoving path information. That is, at a similar time zone and a similarsegment, when the user deviates from a preset path, the data server 70determines the segment as a traffic jam segment at the time zone.Therefore, when searching for the segment at the time zone, the dataserver 70 may reflect the information to the algorithm not to passthrough the segment, if possible. Further, for the found path of thesame starting point and the same destination point, when it isdetermined that an actual moving segment different from the found pathpasses through the same segment several times, the segment is determinedas a user's preference path and then when the segment is searched for,the algorithm can be updated to search for a path by reflecting theuser's preference path.

The updated path search algorithm may be reflected to a navigationapplication stored at the IPTV 80 and may be reflected to path searchalgorithm of the navigation device 10.

By the present invention, the user can receive path guidance using thenavigation device 10 through a minimum manipulation. For example, whenpath setting information is one, the user may receive a guide of adesired path with only a selection operation about whether to receivethe path setting information. Even when a plurality of path settinginformation exists, the user may receive a guide of a desired path withonly one operation of selecting one of displayed title information.Thereby, manipulation convenience of the navigation device 10 canincrease and accident dangerousness can be reduced due to a manipulationof the navigation device while driving.

Further, by the present invention, the user can easily plan a triptogether with families or acquaintances at a home. For example, the usercan efficiently select a tourist site (a destination point and a passingpoint) by connecting to the data server 70 having various data using anIPTV or a PC at a home and specifically plan a trip by searching for apath to the tourist site and performing trial driving thereof. Further,by registering/inputting various additional interest information(historical archaeological sites, good taste restaurants, recommendationtravel sites, etc.) around the found path as the user input information,when actually traveling, additional interest information can be providedthrough the navigation device and thus a boring moving time to adestination point can be usefully used.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood thatmany variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts hereindescribed, which may appear to those skilled in the art, will still fallwithin the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to a navigation device, a navigation system, and a method ofoperating the same of the present invention, a user can receive pathguidance using the navigation device through a minimum manipulation, andthus manipulation convenience of the navigation device can increase andaccident dangerousness can be reduced due to a manipulation of thenavigation device while driving, whereby the present invention hasindustrial applicability.

1. A method of operating a data server, the method comprising: receivinga user input information comprising starting point information,destination point information from a first electronic device; generatingpath setting information by using the user input information, the pathsetting information is information for guiding a path; storing thegenerated path setting information that is classified by theidentification information related to a navigation device; receiving theidentification information from the navigation device, when the pathsetting information is requested from the navigation device;transmitting the prestored path setting information corresponding to theidentification information to the navigation device, wherein the firstelectronic device and the navigation device are physically separatedfrom each other, and wherein when the navigation device receives thepath setting information from the data server, the navigation deviceguides a path by using the received path setting information withoutreceiving a destination point from a user.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: generating title information corresponding to thepath setting information based on the user input information; andtransmitting the title information to the navigation device.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein transmitting the path setting informationcomprises: searching for the first identification information thatmatches the second identification information; and transmitting the pathsetting information corresponding to the found first identificationinformation to the navigation device.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising transmitting the number of the path setting informationmatching the second identification information to the navigation device.5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an actual path ofthe navigation device from the navigation device when the navigationdevice deviates from the user path.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinthe actual path is reflected by updating the path setting information orupdating path acquisition algorithm used for acquiring the pathinformation.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising: generatingtrial driving information according to the path information with theacquired path information; and transmitting the trial drivinginformation to the first electronic device.
 8. A data server comprising:a server communication unit; a server storage unit; a server controllerconfigured to control operation of the server communication unit and theserver storage unit, wherein the server controller is further configuredto: receive a user input information comprising starting pointinformation, destination point information from a first electronicdevice, generate path setting information by using the user inputinformation, the path setting information is information for guiding apath; store the generated path setting information that is classified bythe identification information related to a navigation device; receivethe identification information from the navigation device, when the pathsetting information is requested from the navigation device; transmitthe prestored path setting information corresponding to theidentification information to the navigation device, wherein the firstelectronic device and the navigation device are physically separatedfrom each other, and wherein when the navigation device receives thepath setting information from the data server, the navigation deviceguides a path by using the received path setting information withoutreceiving a destination point from a user.
 9. The data server of claim8, wherein the server controller is further configured to: generatetitle information corresponding to the path setting information based onthe user input information; and transmit the title information to thenavigation device.
 10. The data server of claim 8, wherein the servercontroller is further configured to: search for the first identificationinformation that matches the second identification information; andtransmit the path setting information corresponding to the found firstidentification information to the navigation device.
 11. The data serverof claim 8, wherein the server controller is further configured to:transmit the number of the path setting information matching the secondidentification information to the navigation device.
 12. The data serverof claim 8, wherein the server controller is further configured to:receive an actual path of the navigation device from the navigationdevice when the navigation device deviates from the user path.
 13. Thedata server of claim 11, wherein the actual path is reflected byupdating the path setting information or updating path acquisitionalgorithm used for acquiring the path information.
 14. The data serverof claim 11, wherein the server controller is further configured to:generate trial driving information according to the path informationwith the acquired path information; and transmit the trial drivinginformation to the first electronic device.